Day: December 12, 2022

We dive into some ways to stand out in a saturated market to get your business noticed by potential customers:

1. Find your niche

People have to know you for one thing. Do you specialised in accessories, festive clothing for children, comfortable footwear, or trendy handbags? If you want to attract new customers, finding a niche is key. When you focus on one thing, it will make it easier for your customers to associate you with that one particular thing and begin to see you as an authority in that area. Finding your niche and focusing on it is the first step to tackle before you go on with trying to stand out. 

2. Have a great quality product

It goes without saying, but if your product is good enough, then it will always have a chance at standing out. Marketing can only do so much for a product that’s not of great quality or value. Focus on developing a great product that will fill a gap or need in the market, and it will naturally find its own place in the fashion world.

3. Add more value

Look for ways you can add more values to the products and services you sell to attract clients, which will give people more of a reason to buy from you. A way of adding value could be giving freebies, teaching people how to style via online tutorials, or offering free consultation sessions. Or it could even be something as small as sending a personalized note or an extra item as a gift to your customers along with every order you send out to thank them for shopping with you. Your customers will appreciate the thoughtfulness and be more inclined to shop from you again in the future.

Here are some tips on how to start your own fashion brand to get you started on your way:

Decide on your niche. In the noisy world of fashion, consider filling a gap in the marketplace or think about a niche in the market that isn’t currently being filled. Is it a clothing line for children with tactile issues? Is it a loungewear that can easily be dressed up for a formal occasion? Or perhaps you have a unique design in mind for a specific customer group. Whatever your inspiration is for starting a fashion line, know your niche and always bear it in mind. It will help guide your journey even as you branch out as time goes on.

Develop a business plan. Before you embark on this journey, ask yourself, what is my ultimate goal for this product? What does my brand stand for? Who are my customers? Starting a clothing line requires many of the same considerations as starting any business. Identify your goal and keep it foremost in your mind as you build your brand. Take the time to do the research, identify the types of products that will resonate with your audience and create your budget, before building the product

Identify your target audience. This step goes hand-in-hand with the step above. While developing your brand, you need to know the target market of consumers for the clothes you want to sell. Consider the pros and cons of targeting certain demographics. For instance, young people may be more receptive to online and influencer marketing, but they also may have limited funds. Middle-aged customers may be able to afford a higher price point, but they may be less concerned with style and less keen on trying on a new brand. 

Design and develop your line. For any clothing business, one of the most exciting parts is product development. This is your chance to creatively shine! The first collection you release to the market will be your calling card going forward, so make sure it is something you are happy and proud to identify as your own. At the same time, be practical. If you’re just starting out, whatever you’re designing will have to be produced in a cost-effective manner. It also pays to learn the latest industry standards, access resources and equipment, make contacts, and get feedback from pros in the industry.

Start manufacturing. It’s time to take your product to the manufacturers. Whether you are handmaking your own clothes, have your own commercial production facility or have outsourced the work, there is no doubt that having a manufacturing partner will let you free up time for other aspects of the business and design. How you choose to tackle production and choose a manufacturing partner comes down to a few points – are you concerned with ethical manufacturing or lowest cost? Is ‘made locally’ important to you? Do you plan to scale? How hands-on do you want to be in production? By answering these questions, you’ll be able to source the person or team you want to work with to make your designs a reality.